AN AMBITIOUS project to breathe new life into Henley railway sStation is on track.
The Friends of Henley Railway Station said work on the project should start before Easter.
The original GWR building in Henley has been shut for many years despite passengers using the station.
It has been a long-held hope on the part of the Henley community to renovate and restore the old station building to its former glory.
And the project started gaining real momentum last year when, after lengthy negotiations the Friends group, assisted by Beaudesert and Henley Joint Parish Council, signed a 25-year-lease with Network Rail.
It was agreed the Friends would pay a peppercorn rent for the building so more cash could go into work to restore the station, while retaining as many original features as possible.
Plans for the building feature a community cafe and even a microbrewery, while other projects will include a Shakespeare Garden.
The project also aims to tick the boxes when it comes to green credentials, with solar panels and bicycle stands planned for the station which opened in 1894.
Train operator West Midlands Railways, the Community Station Partnership and the Friends of the Shakespeare Line have stumped up initial funding to help get the project started.
The rest of the restoration will be paid for through grants and a crowdfunding scheme.
The Friends of Henley Railway Station say while there were currently no signs of activity on site, there was plenty going on behind the scenes.
Friends chair Angela Okey said scaffolding was soon to be put up on the station building. Planning permission for change of use and the works proposed – submitted to Stratford District Council – was now in the final stages.
Angela added: “We want to take this opportunity to thank Beaudesert and Henley in Arden Joint Parish Council, Friends of the Shakespeare Line and Railway Heritage Trust for the support they have expressed for the application.
“We are incredibly grateful to EH Smith Building Supplies, which has agreed to support the project, and we are working with them to source all the materials used in the renovation works.
“We have secured great support from all three utilities – Severn Trent, National Grid and BT Openreach – which have established and confirmed their services for usage at the station building when the renovation is completed.
“The trustees of Friends of Henley in Arden Station are busy moving things forward and we look forward to keeping you informed as we progress.”
